Drought Affects Coral Reefs - Small Hotel Industry and Tourism Threatened

One of the best in the Caribbean, the coral reefs ofwill cause a massive, unnatural release of algae that
Barbados, which act as natural barriers off the coastcompose them.
of the island, are in extreme danger due to theInniss emphasized that this widespread death of the
extensive drought that has plagued several of thereefs implies that there has been a loss of protection
eastern Caribbean nations since early last year. Thisagainst the natural occurrences and events such as
has caused much concern considering the island hashurricanes, tsunamis and winter swells that are
been exerting much effort to promote environmentalexpected in the western side of the coast of the
awareness and improvement.Caribbean island, Barbados.
The Caribbean has been a popular place forThe deputy director added that the death of the
vacations, especially the tiny island of Barbados.reefs implies a loss of protection against natural
Every Barbados small hotel and otherevents such as hurricanes, tsunamis and winter swells
accommodations are more often than not wellexpected in the western coast of the Caribbean
received by guests and critics alike. However, theisland.
hotel sector expressed some concern over theFurthermore, she gravely pointed out and directed
danger threatening the coral reefs because asideattention to the entry of salt water in the aquiferous
from the environmental implications, it may contributearea of the coastal waters. Apparently, this was
to negative effects on business as well.caused by the intensive exploitation of underground
According to Loma Inniss, the deputy director of thereserves of this important element during the
Unit of Management of Coastal Regions, theongoing drought that has been plaguing the region for
continuously rising temperature of the surface watersa long time now.
and the scarcity of rainfall are the culprits for the direIn response to this threat, the government has
situation the coral reefs of the island are in. Sherecently announced the introduction of measures to
explained that these two factors led to the whiteninglimit the consumption of water resources for
of the marine structures which would in turn lead todomestic and agricultural activities, even by the
their eventual death and most likely their inevitableindustry of Barbados small hotel, in case the drought
extinction.continues. Also the legislation will stipulate fines of
This phenomenon of whitening structures is actually amore than $300 USD and even prison sentences if
de-pigmentation, or the loss of color, of the coralthe new laws are broken.
colonies that surround the nation. In addition to this, it